In Malaysia, the 13th general election has been called by Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak after a year-long speculation. More than 13 million Malaysians will go to the polls on May 5. This is the first time that the ruling party has gone through the full five-year term before dissolving parliament. Most feel the ruling coalition has lacked confidence to face the electorate on several contentious issues like race, vote buying, electoral fraud, Hudud law and corruption. It faces growing anger due to rising racial and religious tensions, allegations of corruption involving its leaders directly or indirectly, the rising cost of living, police brutality, continued detention without trial and the awarding of scholarships to students based on racial quota and not merit. Read more »

More than 50,000 people have gathered at various spots, all heading towards Stadium Merdeka in the nation’s federal capital to participate in the Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat rally (AKA KL #112). Himpunan Kebangkitan Rakyat (literally translates to Uprising of the Citizens Rally) was organised by the Opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat as they ramp up efforts in the lead up to the yet-to-be-announced general election that must occur sometime in 2013. The organisers have paid US$30,000 to the management as deposit to use the venue and signed an agreement with the police to gather peacefully. Read more »

On the 1st of October 2012, Genneva Malaysia was raided by both the authorities in Malaysia and Singapore for suspected offences including illegal deposit taking, money laundering, tax evasion and avoidance, false description (misrepresentations), appointment of agents without licence, and failing to lodge statutory documents. Read more »

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) recently took delivery of their only Airbus A380 in France and MAS flew it to the Farnborough Airshow to show it to the visitors of the airshow. Invited guests were allowed to take a tour of the interior and everyone with-in sight of the airport was able to see the A380 on the runway. Read more »

The Malaysian Road Transport Department has announced that the winning bid for “WWW1″ was sold at a record price of 520,000 RM (Malaysian Ringgit, MYR) to Sultan Ibrahim Ismail. Sultan Ismail is a constitutional lead from the state of Johor.

Malaysian opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim will be charged for April “Bersih” protest. Anwar Ibrahim’s meteoric rise up the ranks of the ruling party in 1990s to deputy prime minister ended with his sacking in a falling-out with his boss Mahathir Mohamad (Dr. M). Read more »

Police fired tear gas after 25,000 protestors, rallying for a free and fair election broke, through the barrier at Dataran Merdeka at about 3pm. The crowd was marching along Jalan Tun Perak with their leaders. The leaders told the crowd to sit down and protest but they instead charged through the police barricades. Read more »

The RMAF Smokey Bandits Team Aerobatics with Five MiG-29N showed up in the Singapore Airshow. The team is based at Kuantan, a unit of No. 17/19 SKN (Squadron), which is also known as the “Taufan Ganas”. All of the team’s pilots are operational fighter pilots, including a female pilot, Major Patricia Yap Syau Yin. Read more »

The chariot carrying the statue of Lord Murugan made its way from the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple to Batu Caves. Devotees lined the route holding trays of offerings, smashing coconuts along its path. The turnout was the biggest to date, due to the extended weekend. The chariot arrived in Batu Caves at about 4pm and will remain for the next three days, when it will return to Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. Similar procession was held in Singapore. Read more »

Penang holds the bragging rights for the Miss Cheongsam Malaysia 2012 when 20-year-old Lliss Wong Yim Kei was crowned champion. She beat 17 other finalists in the 22nd edition of the beauty pageant to take home the RM6,000 cash prize and the prestigious Miss Cheongsam title.